All SIMI Film Fest events take place at the Studio Movie Grill, located at the Simi Town Center Mall (1555 Simi Town Center Way, Simi Valley, CA 93065), unless otherwise noted for field trips.
Thursday, September 5th
Kick off the SIMI Film Fest in style! Join us on September 5th at Studio Movie Grill for an exclusive red carpet event and opening party hosted by our title sponsor, Film Simi Valley. Celebrate the start of an incredible festival with filmmakers, special guests, and film lovers. Special surprises await for classic movie buffs!
This is a non-ticketed event, however please note the red carpet is reserved for SIMIFF's showcasing filmmakers along with their cast/crews, as well as our panelists, sponsors, and VIP guests.
An unforgettable evening will kick off the SIMI Film Fest with our Opening Ceremony and Nomination Celebration! Following on from the glamorous red carpet event, come along to the Opening Ceremony and celebration of this year's Award Nominees, where we'll honor the exceptional films and creators that have made this year's festival truly special.
It's a night of celebration, inspiration, and anticipation for the incredible cinematic journey ahead.
The Kick-Off Block (1hr 28mins)
A block of 8 light-hearted short films, appropriate for all ages.
On Air (dir. Colby Barrios) - In the late 1960s, a retiring news anchor is brought back to broadcast one last time.
Oh My Sweetheart (dir. Aristides De Jesús Mantilla Artigas) - Joaquin, a lonely homeless kid finds a life friend in a little puppy, just to later find out the dog is lost and has an owner after Joaquin's older brother refuses to keep the puppy with them and Joaquin must find the owner to bring the puppy back home and finally finding a true friendship.
Lovebugs (dir. Teddy Alvarez-Nissen) - A snail invites you to read his upcoming autobiography.
Lillo (dir. Andrea Figueroa) - After the death of his father, a little boy has to do the cornfield harvest on his own, overcoming his loss with the help of his imagination.
Cosmo (dir. Thomas Thomas) - Jane Montana (La Trice Harper), a fearless law-woman, finds herself in a high-stakes standoff with a notorious gang of outlaws led by Buford (Jeremy John Wells). With only two bullets and three dangerous adversaries, Jane must rely on her wit, grit, and a little imagination to rescue a kidnapped damsel in distress.
We Regret to Inform You (dir. Nathan Fleetwood) - Four colleagues receive an email announcing that within one hour they may all lose their jobs.
The Mage's Apprentice (dir. Toshimitsu Chimura) - A story depicting the strengthening of bonds between child, parents, and grandparent, all thanks to a trip to learn traditional crafts.
Sister Judy And The Delinquents (dir. Greg LaVoi) - A feisty nun fights for the rights of at risk students in a gentrifying Catholic school that boards the children of parents who are incarcerated.
Friday, September 6th
Explore Strathearn Park & Arroyo West Studios
Friday, September 6, 11am - meet at 137 Strathearn Pl, Simi Valley, CA 93065
Explore the diverse filming landscapes of the historic Strathearn Park, used in many commercial films. We'll also get an in-depth behind-the-scenes look at Arroyo West Studios. This trip offers a unique opportunity to discover prime locations and network with local industry professionals.
Free and open to all filmmakers!
Why Dinosaurs Documentary (1hr 34mins)
A wonderful documentary perfect for anyone who has ever had a fascination with dinosaurs.
Why Dinosaurs? (dir. Tony & James Pinto) From prestigious museums and universities, to blockbuster films, amusement park rides, video games, and toys--dinosaurs have always fascinated us. But, why?
WHY DINOSAURS follows dino-obsessed youth James Pinto and his filmmaker father (Tony Pinto) on a journey around the world, interviewing world renowned paleontologists about the latest dinosaur research, and encountering dinosaur fanatics of all walks of life.
Together they track down the filmmakers behind Jurassic Park and Jurassic World, see the world’s largest dinosaur toy collection, dig up some real dinosaur bones, and attempt to discover why everybody loves dinosaurs!
Inspiring Change (1hr 36mins)
Two inspiring, life enriching documentaries.
A Trusted Space: Navigating Storms (dir. Tanner Woodley) - Understanding mental health is the first step to conquering it. This film is here to help students navigate their storms. (Part 4 of a series by Simi Valley based producer, Lori Woodley-Langendorff.)
Giants Rising (dir. Lisa Landers) - Journey into the heart of America’s most iconic forests to discover the secrets, superpowers and saga of the redwoods — the tallest and some of the oldest living beings on Earth.
Industry Panel: From Script To Production
With Paul Tamasy and Jordan Gertner
Friday, September 6th, 5:30 PM - Theater 4
Explore the journey of crafting a feature film from concept to completion, following Paul and Jordan's latest collaboration on the Paramount Pictures release, Depravity, starring Dermot Mulroney and Victoria Justice, coming October 2024.
Industry Panel: Overcoming Rejection and Failure In Hollywood
With Industry Podcaster, Dan Rutstein
Friday, September 6th, 6:15 PM - Theater 5
Gain insights from those who have paved the way before you. Dan has interviewed hundreds of filmmakers who began in the indie scene and made it to Hollywood, discovering the resilience that fueled their success.
Meet one-on-one with the panelists in the FILMingle lounge. Sign-ups are first come, first served.
Turning Points (1hr 29mins)
5 Compelling Short Dramas With Pivotal Twists
Darcine's Day (dir. Aaron Goffman) - A single woman strives to thrive and survive, but comes face to face with the housing crisis in the City Of Angeles.
The Composer (dir. Gigi Grigorian) - An elderly man with Alzheimer's thinks he's a composer and is determined to prove it.
Nocturne (dir. Alysha Haran) - A classical composer's muse returns for a brief visit in the final days before World War II, adding torture to pain when they clash over differing memories of the time spent together during their youth. Playing his unfinished composition together is the last moment they share before a broken heart leads to bitter regret.
The Resistance (dir. Kara White) - Trained by Britain during WWII, a British female spy and her fellow agents use a small cafe in occupied France as their headquarters. Their cafe becomes a trap as a Nazi officer begins to suspect who they really are.
Enemy No More (dir. Christopher Schultz) - WWII, a wounded American soldier has escaped a prison camp only to be recaptured by a Japanese soldier that has abandoned the war. Becoming friends, they realize they can help each other get back home.
Thrills & Dystopian Chills (1hr 30min)
An action packed block with twisting perspectives and haunting scenarios.
Solace (dir. Justin Daniel Priluck) - Richard, a recent widower, is taken to a resort by his friend in the hopes of making him happy again. However, a dark secret lies beneath the floors of the retreat.
Rise Of Chow (dir. Hymnson Chan) - A young man new to Las Vegas, with dreams of becoming a headlining magician, gets his life derailed by tragic events and mental health battles that cause him to spiral down a dark path of vengeance and violence.
Daedalus (dir. Marlon J Streb, Avery T Streb) - Overwhelmed and distraught photographer Mark is sent to a cabin in the woods on a job. After spending a night at the house, he discovers that the hallways are not what they seem.
HIT-GIRL: A Kick-Ass Christmas Story (dir. Kevin Barile) - Mindy McCready is home alone on Christmas Eve when a gang of criminals invade her house looking for a stolen package. Mindy deals with them directly as her alter-ego, HIT-GIRL.
Sweet Molly (dir. J.C. McNaughton) - At 16, Molly, born and raised in the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (FLDS) cult, makes a chilling discovery through her ability to astral project, leading to a life-altering event.
Dark Reflections (1hr 22min)
Facing mental struggles, whether your own or someone else's, takes incredible delicacy when you fight for survival amidst the darkness. Recommended for Mature Audiences.
Kinnected (dir. Katz Carter) - After closing their eyes with thoughts of attempting suicide, Yin and Yang, estranged twins with polar opposite personalities, find themselves tied up together in a basement.
Thirst Trap (dir. Chantal Massuh-Fox) - A struggling cam girl who dreams of making it big in Hollywood catches the eye of a fan who's obsession may cost her everything.
Saturday, September 7th
Hands-On Tech Experience at Cinemoves!
Saturday, September 7th, 11am - meet at 5151 Goldman Avenue, Moorpark, CA 93021
Dive into the latest filmmaking technology with a hands-on experience at Cinemoves, a leader in camera movement solutions for the film and television industry. Join us on Saturday, September 7th at 11am to explore cutting-edge equipment and techniques that are shaping the future of cinematography. Enjoy a complimentary lunch while networking with industry professionals and fellow filmmakers.
Free and open to all filmmakers!
Filmmaker public meet & greet in SMG's lobby/bar area. Meet the officially selected filmmakers from this year's SIMI Film Fest!
Friends Of the Fest (1hr 26min)
A mixed selection of films from friends of the festival, all with their own way of telling their stories from real-life or inner-perspectives.
Changes (dir. Nika Khitrova) - Nothing changes if nothing changes. A young woman on the brink of breaking free from addiction finds hope in a kind stranger as she strives to transform her life for herself and her child.
Exposé (dir. Anastazja Gajkowska) - Eighty-eight survivors from six continents share their powerful stories of breaking free from abuse, uniting with experts to expose the red flags, healing journeys, and lessons on love, in a global mission to end the cycle of abusive relationships once and for all.
Mr. Man's Piano (dir.Stephanie Williams) - Queer couple Molly and Rebecca have the "purrfect" family: wife, wife, and cat. Until one stormy night, when their bubble of domesticity is punctured by their cat-child's piano taking on a life of its own.
Hollywood I'm Sorry (dir. Fernando Escovar) - An Oscar bought off EBay leads to a SWAT team raid. Oscar winners are interviewed about what the Oscar means to them. And innocence is lost as it becomes clear what winning an Oscar really means.
Grafiti (dir. Mia Alvarez, Ian Carr, Caleb Chin, Stephanie Hickman, Kaitlyn Sage, Talie Sanchez, Cory Stone, Avery Streb, Marlon Streb, Justin Svolos) - The Theatre Club and Film Club are rivals competing for the coveted Principal's Cup at a high school for the arts.
Bite-Sized and Fun (1hr 30mins)
From fighting tears to feeding passions this screening block will have you both laughing out loud and drooling for deliciousness.
Good Grief (dir. Ash Blodgett) - In search of closure, a young woman attempts to spread her father's ashes on a remote sea cliff but an unexpected encounter leads her to the only person who might just understand her grief.
B Word (dir. Honora Talbott) - At a baby shower, a 30-something woman who doesn’t want kids is crushed to lose yet another bestie to motherhood. In her quest to find new friends, she stumbles into a cringeworthy misunderstanding.
I Could Eat (dir. Rick Bedrosian) - A professional musician sings for his supper in some deliciously distinctive destinations.
Breakfast Salad (dir. Roe Moore) - When Andrew finally joins his friends for their cherished weekly breakfast outing, he discovers they have a bizarre new obsession: breakfast salads. Chaos ensues as Andrew struggles to accept this culinary rebellion, believing it to be a violation of breakfast law!
Roomies (dir. Nevada Grey, Anthony Vietro) - When a stay-at-home Mom discovers her unfaithful husband has cut off her finances, she is forced to move in with her son and his college roommates and start a new chapter in her life.
Industry Panel: Creativity As A Business
With Sean McNamara and Bernice Howes
Saturday, September 7th, 5:30 PM - Theater 5
Essential tips for building a lasting career in the film industry, from mastering your pitch to flawlessly executing your creative vision.
Industry Panel: Fix It In Pre!
With Bud Myrick, Cassandra Nicholson, and Laura Noxon
Saturday, September 7th, 6:15 PM - Theater 4
Why wait for post to fix your film when you can get it right from the start? Join VFX Supervisor Bud Myrick, Scriptation's Laura Noxon, and ShotDeck's Cassandra Nicholson as they share expert insights and tools to perfect your project during pre-production.
Meet one-on-one with the panelists in the FILMingle lounge. Sign-ups are first come, first served.
Drama Driven (1hr 28mins)
Take a journey down the road of deep drama in this deeply riveting block of brilliant short filmmaking.
Recommended for Mature Audiences.
To Hold The Night (dir. Jessica Petelle) - Set in the 1960’s, Nadine, a young flight attendant, wakes up in her childhood home on her wedding day. Not only does she not remember getting there, she doesn’t remember the groom or their courtship...
The Craftsman (dir. Kevin Herrera) - There are no plans to dealing with grief.
Engelstan (dir. Manu Coeman) - In the coastal town of Calais, the encounter between Deborah and Mansour weaves a tale of unlikely friendship that transcends borders and time.
Palmdale (dir. Lauren Moreno) - A teenage girl chooses to take matters into her own hands as an eviction looms over her family's trailer.
Into The Valley (dir. Emily Sandifer) - A woman out of place, caught between the traditionalists and the hippie movement in 1967 California, turns to robbing banks, as she struggles with the unaddressed anxiety of not fulfilling gender expectations of being a wife and mother.
Sci-Fi and Screams (1hr 30mins)
Come on a thrilling journey into the unknown where aliens, cults, haunted objects, and insanity intertwine in a pulse-pounding collection of chilling tales.
Recommended for Mature Audiences.
Don't Get Close (dir. Susannah Donnan) - After losing his law internship, Chip finds himself working at a dry cleaner with his eccentric roommate, but when he wakes up with a mysterious injury and no memory of an alien encounter, his obsession with extraterrestrials spirals into a reality he can't ignore.
Dead Air (dir. Brad Etter) - Shortly after receiving a vintage radio as a birthday gift from her husband, Julie begins to hear mysterious coded messages. As she struggles to figure out the meaning – she also has to convince her dismissive husband Roger to believe the ominous warnings.
Every Other Animal (dir. Olia Oparina) - A small-time drug trafficker tries to rescue a young girl who has been kidnapped by a zealous preacher while battling a manipulative Cicada-like entity.
Insane (dir. Sonia Blangiardo-Goins) - A brilliant oncologist on the verge of curing cancer awakens in a psych ward, where he's told that the life he remembers belongs to his best friend, leaving him to unravel whether he's caught in a twisted conspiracy or losing his sanity.
HE (dir. Chunzi Zhang) - In the future world of 2035, the girl Sifan was hurt by Zheng Yi in her marriage, so she placed her hopes for love on the AI person Li Zhe. Unexpectedly, she was kidnapped and injured by the AI person. Only then did Sifan realize that the true meaning of love is not only the pursuit of desire, but also the forbearance and restraint behind love.
Simi Valley Made Feature (1hr 27mins)
From the heart of Simi Valley comes a late night feature to keep you on the edge of suspense.
The Serenade Charade (dir. Diane Nierenberg) - Famous producer/director Wendy Kline hires composer Cerilene Hansen to score her new film and invites her to a production meeting with a secret, alternate agenda that plunges both women into a deeper, darker mystery.
Sunday, September 8th
Discover Corriganville & Allied Studios Backlot!
Sunday, September 8th, 10am - meet at 7001 Smith Road, Simi Valley, CA 93063
Come along to an exclusive tour at Corriganville and Allied Studios' backlot. Discover iconic filming locations used by Hollywood's greatest talents and explore the behind-the-scenes magic of movie-making in these historic settings. Perfect for filmmakers looking to get inspired and learn about classic and contemporary production environments.
Free and open to all filmmakers!
Follow Your Heart (1hr 30min)
Films of pure passion that guide us through unfamiliar territory, helping to keep life's journey on track.
Chorus Notes (dir. Casey de Fremery) - After a chance encounter at a record store, two women form a connection through the power of music.
Amicable (dir. David Moore) - When the pursuit of their careers begins to outshine the love they once shared a young couple reaches a breaking point in their relationship.
The Straight And Narrow (dir. Andrew Beall) - A young man realizes that post-graduation life isn't all it's cracked up to be. As he struggles to adjust to the mundane nature of the 9-5, he questions life's true meaning and the value of a dollar over one's goals and dreams.
Clown (dir. Dani Shear) - Larry Lowenstein has always been passionate about clowning but his thankless gigs barely pay the rent and with little money, chicks or artistic respect to show for it, he is ready to "hang up the rubber nose" and go straight. An encounter with a lonely, precocious kid gives Larry back his artistic dignity and makes him see the nobility of his craft.
Modular California Vibes (dir. Joachim Garraud) - 4 producers, 4 days, 4 unique landscapes, 4 solar-powered productions
AWD Block (1hr 32min)
A block of short films dedicated solely to films made by members of the Alliance Of Women Directors
Audrey (dir. Julianna Robinson) - Meredith and her wife get a jaw dropping surprise when Meredith's brother brings over his unusual new girlfriend, sending their family dinner spiraling into chaos.
Unconditional (dir. Marta Chierego) - Inspired by the solitude of lockdown, this short film explores the painful yet beautiful journey of self-acceptance, capturing the courage required to confront our deepest fears and emerge transformed.
72 (dir. Marissa Chibás) - It’s New York City 1972 and Cuban immigrant Gloria Cienfuegos’s life and New Year’s Eve party are upended when her 18-year-old daughter Viv announces that she’s being sworn in that week as an American citizen.
Marque Dos (dir. Asha Chai-Chang) - An aspiring tour manager moves up the ranks in the marketing industry where discovering herself and her place in the world faces off with the demands of her dream job.
172 Push Ups (dir. Frieda Naphsica de Lackner) - A female soldier and a Vietnam vet bond over push-up contests, but clash over their opposite views on same-sex marriage. A film about acceptance, building bridges, and love.
Standards (dir. LaLa Halsema) - A parent meeting at her daughter’s conservative school forces Julia to acknowledge the conflicting thoughts she’s fought to ignore. Will she surrender to the seeming ease of the status quo or risk her place in the community and speak out?
Worth (dir. Kathi Carey) - Who knows what something, or someone, is REALLY worth. The answer could surprise you.
Five And A Half (dir. Heidi Nyburg) - Based on a true story, a sheltered little girl spends an unnerving afternoon with her estranged father where she’s left with only her imagination to stop time and escape impending disaster.
Mindscapes (1hr 04mins)
Not everything is quite as it seems... so don't judge the book by its cover!
Recommended for Mature Audiences.
Purgy's (dir. Robbie Bryan) - At a magical bar, spirits from the other side take the form of another human and interact with those from the past who seek closure and re-connection, without being aware of whom they are speaking to.
I'm Sorry, I Tried, I Love You (dir. Goldie Jones) - A struggling mother finds herself caught in an endless battle against a mysterious infestation in her home.
Dad's Journal (dir. Henry Choa) - The mysteries within Dad's journal reaches far beyond its pages.
The Uniform (dir. Dylan Gary) - A lonely woman who has slipped through the cracks of life, goes to extremes in her search for human connection.
Join us for a very special (and surprise) event at the Studio Movie Grill...a SIMI Film Fest first!
Awards Ceremony
Celebrating the best of independent cinema at our Award Ceremony, where we'll honor the outstanding films and creators of this year's SIMI Film Fest. Join us for an evening of recognition, excitement, and inspiration as we applaud the talent and hard work that brought these remarkable stories to life.